Congress "distracting" Indian public from real issues: BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Monday alleged that the Congress Party has been employing strategies to "distract" the Indian public from the real issues of corruption and inflation. He also alleged that the ruling party has abused the powers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Adding to the flurry of political reactions coming in after media reports suggested that Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav would be given a clean chit by the CBI, Hussain said "The Congress is abusing the powers of the CBI to gain Mulayam Singh Yadav's support on the Food Security Bill, by taking the support of those who are in the grip of the CBI."

Yadav was earlier opposed to the proposed Food Security Bill, but television reports have now suggested that a deal between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party is in the offing that could see Yadav backing the Congress on the bill after receiving clearing by the CBI on the alleged disproportionate asset case.

In November 2005, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the assets of Mulayam Singh, his sons Akhilesh and Prateek, and daughter-in-law Dimple. It was alleged that the family had acquired properties worth over Rs 100 crore in Uttar Pradesh, disproportionate to known sources of their income.

The Congress party commenced a two-day media conclave in New Delhi today, which would advise party members on how it would use the media as a tool for communication. Hussain though claimed that the attention the event is attracting, especially with regard to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's speech is unnecessary.

" All of this is a strategy by the Congress party to distract the people from the real issues at hand. The issues of corruption and inflation that this government is submerged in," Hussain said here today.